Magic Beat Hawks Behind 4th-Quarter Surge; Advance to Face Boston in Playoffs

After a 25-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, the Orlando Magic advance to meet the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) reacts after making a three-point shot against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at Kia Center. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic have Easter plans.

Powered by a 41-22 final-quarter advantage and big nights from the supporting cast around its two stars, Orlando defeated the Atlanta Hawks in Tuesday's No. 7-8 Play-In Tournament game with a 120-95 victory.

As a result, the Magic advance to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. It's the first time Orlando has made consecutive trips to the playoffs since 2018-20.

Game 1 of the series is set to take place on Sunday, April 20, with tipoff time and TV designation still to be determined.

Behind one of Cole Anthony's best games this year, the fifth-year reserve guard led Orlando in the win-and-in contest. He tallied 26 points (10-17 shooting) and six assists off the bench, recording a staggering plus-32 plus-minus in just 20 minutes.

"This was just an awesome game to be a part of," Anthony said postgame. "I was just happy to be out there and do something to feel like I was contributing to the team."

Fellow reserve guard Anthony Black scored 16 points (6-7 field goals, 3-3 on threes) and went plus-34. Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points (8-12 field goals) and seven rebounds in 26 minutes.

Although Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner each struggled with overall offensive efficiency, they were still effective in victory. Banchero tallied 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Wagner added 13 points and 13 rebounds.

"That was a big-time team effort, by committee," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "These guys all stepped up, played their role, did what was asked, followed the game plan."

"Everyone who stepped on the court contributed, so that's just a great team effort," Anthony said."

Trae Young, who scored 28 points after going scoreless in the first quarter, was ejected in the fourth quarter after receiving double technical fouls.

Orlando shot 48.4 percent from the field to Atlanta's 38.1 percent, scored 25 second-chance points to the Hawks' 15, and 19 fastbreak points to the Hawks' four.

Here's a few other notables from the victory:

Magic punch first, weather the storm

With 6:11 to play in the first quarter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope answered Onyeka Okongwu's three-pointer with one of his own, and the Magic took a 14-13 lead.

That Caldwell-Pope triple was the first made basket of a 21-4 run that spanned the rest of the frame. Young was held scoreless, and the Magic took a 32-17 lead into the second.

Orlando went on to build its lead as large as 22 points before halftime, but Atlanta would not go away quietly. The Hawks closed the first half on a 12-4 run, then drew within three with 3:00 to play after the Magic lulled their way through a sluggish third quarter.

Yet, with its resolve tested, Orlando never fully relinquished its advantage.

The Magic carried a six-point advantage into the final frame, then opened on a 25-12 run out of the quarter break to again establish its grip on the game, earning a 25-point victory in its wake.

"There were some moments where one or two guys would get frustrated at the ref or maybe with each other, and guys were just able to tell each other to relax, regroup and shake it off quickly," Banchero said. "That's just what a good team does. That's what a tight locker room does, and we were able to do that."

"We've been there before," Mosley said. "I think we've been in these situations in the close games at home, our ability to get the stops and get the runs at the right time were very big for us."

Won and done

The Magic now advance to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs, while the Hawks must await to learn the winner of Wednesday's No. 9-10 game between the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat.

The Hawks and their eventual opponent will meet Friday in an elimination game, where the winner advances to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in a first-round playoff series.

Tickets for the Magic's home games in the first round of the playoffs go on sale Wednesday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET, with presale beginning at 10 a.m. on the team's website.

Further details regarding the Magic's first-round series will be announced later by the NBA.

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